Let's start with the basics. Title: The Hangover. Rating: R. Cast: Somewhat unknown except for the singing Mike Tyson. End Result: I think I peed a little!
Good. Now that we have that out of the way let's get started! A hangover. We've all had one. BUT, have we had one in Las Vegas? Have we had one in Vegas to the point where we wake up to a smashed room which will undoubtedly cost our credit card on file thousands of $$$? Is there an unexplained tiger in the bathroom, a buddy missing a tooth, and a buddy ....well...just plain missing? I think not! But these guys have!
The Hangover is one funny summer movie that is worth the price of admission AND the popcorn/coke. There are no huge stars to carry you through the laughs so director Todd Phillips (Old School and Starsky and Hutch) does it the old fashioned way. He relies on the cast's wonderful chemistry and great writing that is sometimes a little more than just weird. As I mentioned the cast is largely unknown. This being said, there isn't a "Personality" or "Star Ego" in the mix so these guys truly come off like just a bunch of regular joes who get into WAY too much trouble in Vegas while celebrating their best friends' last few days of bachelorhood. Along the way the bunch runs into an Asian gangster (Ken Jeong from Role Models and Knocked Up), a stripper with a heart of gold (Heather Graham), one abandoned baby, a tiger, and Mike Tyson. On top of this they find a way to lose the groom. Hmmm....let the shennanigans begin!
To be fair it's not the first go round for most of the cast. Ed Helms is recognized from his role on The Office and Bradley Cooper previously graced the big screen in films such as Wedding Crashers and Yes Man. Of course, Heather Graham...can we say YEAH BABY??? ;)
Perhaps the shining breakout star of this fim is the ever refreshing and hysterically brilliant Zach Galifianakis. The characters are established early on in the film. Helms portrays the responsible straight man of the group and Cooper is instantly recognized as the unfailing frat boy. But Galifianakis is introduced as an outsider to the group...a newbie claiming his rights to the boys club because he is the bride's brother. Viewers may expect the typical Jack Black fat boy delivery but Galifianakis turns this idea upside down with his intelligent humor and often times soft spoken and WEIRD delivery. Remember this guy's name. You WILL see him again.
The Hangover is a great summer comedy to see with your crew. The cinematoghraphy and soundtrack I would classify as average. You won't get any epic shots or sweeping violins but the humor and sometimes offbeat writing keep you involved long enough to find the laughs where you are supposed to. Stay for the end credits. They are legendary and you will get to see MORE of Mr. Galifianakis if you know what I mean. ;)
CAST: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Jeffrey Tambor, Justin Bartha, Mike Tyson, Ken Jeong
Rating: R
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